Warm weather means we get to spend more time outdoors with family! Hiking, picnics, and biking are just some of our favorite warm-weather pastimes, and there’s no shortage of places to do them in the Lakes Region! Here are some great spots to enjoy these activities:

For panoramic views of Lake Winnipesaukee, a half-day hike at Mt. Major, is your best bet. If you’re looking to cool down, try a plunge in Lonesome Lake and scenic views of the Franconia Ridge off the Lonesome Lake Trail. If waterfalls are more your thing, experience the beauty of 45-foot Avalanche Falls, with an uphill walk at Flume Gorge. Look out for flowers, mosses, ferns, and cute animals during this hike and try to complete the Flume Gorge Scavenger Hunt!

Prefer to slow things down a bit? Visit Ellacoya State Park for a picnic set against a backdrop of the lake and Sandwich and Ossipee mountains! Prepare some delicious treats and enjoy the spring air at their picnic area or picnic pavilion.

Grab your bike and explore our favorite bike trails. Lincoln Woods Trail, Franconia Notch, and Northern Rail Trail are all under an hour from Meredith Bay.

Don’t let spring showers stop you from having fun.

Stay dry and get creative at Art Escape in Laconia! Walk-ins are welcome and you can make anything from ceramics and pottery to fused glass and canvas crafts. Prefer to take a class? Check out their calendar for both kids and adult events here.

Rainy weather is also the perfect excuse to go shopping. Treat yourself at Mills Marketplace, where you’ll find nine fabulous shops. Whether you’re looking for accessories, bags, rustic furniture, or arts and crafts, you can find it all at Mills Marketplace.

Want to snuggle up with a book? Find the perfect spring read at Innisfree Bookshop with books for both kids and adults. There’s no need to leave Mills Marketplace to get pampered either—while visiting, you can stop by Voila! with nail, tanning, and waxing services available.

There’s always something new to enjoy and explore at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire! Engaging exhibits and educator-led activities are available every day, giving your kiddos plenty of opportunities to have fun and learn something new.

There are learning opportunities in store for you, too, at the Laconia Historical & Museum Society, where you’ll find information about the history and culture of Laconia. With archival materials, artifacts of daily life, fine and decorative arts, exhibitions, and educational programs, there’s plenty to discover.

Lunch or dinner with a lake view? Sign us up! The Town Docks at Meredith offer lakeside outdoor seating, a sandy outdoor Tiki Bar, and free tie-ups to come by boat. You can also enjoy a beautiful view from the patio of O Steaks and Seafood. O Steaks and Seafood redefines the classic steak house with delicious dishes using the freshest ingredients, hand-cut steaks, and tasty seafood. Don’t forget to try their mac and cheese, voted the Best Macaroni and Cheese for the second consecutive year by The Hippo!

The Lakes Region is also home to two great wineries. Only 10 minutes from Meredith Bay, Hermit Woods Winery and Deli offers wine tastings, tours, locally crafted beer, and a spacious deck so you can enjoy the warm weather while sipping on your favorite wine. The Winnipesaukee Winery is known for their French oak barrel-aged reds and selection of dry to sweet wines. They are also ready to take on the warmer weather with delicious wine slushies starting Memorial Day weekend!

We would never forget about dessert. Visit Kellerhaus, the oldest candy and ice cream maker in New Hampshire and take your pick from more than 100 premium chocolates and old-fashioned candies. Our favorites are the Buttercrunch and Homemade Chocolate Fudge. If you prefer to drink your dessert, head over to Camp and try their delicious S’mores Martini, crafted to mimic their best-selling S’mores dessert. With mouth-watering crafted chocolates, classes, a café, and restaurant Dancing Lion Chocolates is also well worth the drive!

If you’re looking for an adrenaline rush, we’ve got you covered!

Check out these highlights from the Zipline Tour at Monkey Trunks, only 2 minutes from Meredith Bay:

• Take on over 1800 ft of ziplines
• Tackle 11 challenges
• Climb and zip tree to tree as high as 60 ft
• Glide 65 ft over a pond!

Other ziplining options in the area include Alpine Adventures and Gunstock Mountain, both under an hour from Meredith Bay.

Conquer your fear of heights in Charlestown, NH with a tandem flight and views of New England from over 2000 feet above the ground! For more information, click here. Morningside Flight Park also offers paragliding lessons, powered paragliding, hang gliding, and group laser tag.